Bicycle



(No Model.)

M. JOSEPH. BICYCLE No. 593,101. Patented Nov. 2, 1897.

V NESSES 2 IN THE ncRms m 00., Fucrauma. wasmum'on, u. c.

UNITED S'ra'rns PATENT @rrrca MYER JOSEPH, OF ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,101, dated November 2, 1897.

Application filed December 17, 1896. Serial No 616,051. (No model.)

To aZ-Z whom it may concern.-

Be it, known that L'MYER JOSEPH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arlingion, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles; and I do hereby declare the. following to be a full, clear; and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to bicycles, and has reference particularly to the driving mechanism thereof.

The object of the present invention is to dispense with the usual driving chains and sprockets and to provide simple mechanism whereby increased leverage is obtained and also whereby the length of stroke of the pedals may be increased or diminished, as desired, the machine being especially adapted for ladies use.

The invention consists in an improved driving-gear for bicycles embodying certain novel features and details of construction, as will be hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of abicycle, showing the improved driving-gear. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rear portion of a bicycle, showing the improved gearing as applied to an ordinary machine without reorganizing the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail side elevation of a portion of one of the pedal levers and toothed segments. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the safety-lever support.

Similar numerals designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referrin g to the drawings, 1 designates an ordinary safety-bicycle of the drop -frame type especially adapted for ladies use. In lieu of the ordinary sprocket -wheels' and drivingchains I employ a pair of pedal-levers 2, which are fulcrumed at their rear ends, as indicated at 3, on a' pair of rearwardly-extending horizontal arms 4, secured at their forward ends to the machine-frame by any suitable means, and preferably embracing the axle 5 of the driving-wheel. The arms 4 are connected to the machine-frame by means of diagonal or oblique braces 6, which extend from the rear ends of the arms 4 and forward to the machine-frame at a point near the juncture of the rear braces 7 and the seatpost tube 8.

The pedal-levers 2 are provided at their free ends with pedals 9, arranged in the proper relation to the saddle 10 and connected by means of a flexible cord or chain or equivalent device 11, said cord or chain being attached at its opposite ends to said levers and passing over a pulley or guide. 12, mounted upon a bracket 13, secured to the seat-post tube 8. Each of said levers is provided at an intermediate point with a toothed segment 14, said segmentbeing pivotally connected at 15 to its respective lever 2. The segment 14 is toothed upon its rear face, the teeth being saw-shaped and provided with lower square faces 16 and upper inclined faces 17, from which project rubber bumpers 18, the same being seated in sockets formed in the faces 17 of the teeth, so that when said bumpers become worn out they may be replaced. At each side of the driving-wheel is a ratchet-disk 19, the same being adapted in its forward movement to take up and drive the driving-wheel 20 of the machine, and the teeth of the ratchet-wheels 19 match with those of the segment 14 and mesh therewith. On each lever 2 is arranged a leaf-spring 21, one end of which is secured to the lever and the opposite end arranged to bear against the front side of the segment 1e, whereby said segment is maintained in the proper mesh with its respective ratchet-disk in the downward movement of the pedal-lever. In the upward movement of said lever the teeth may be slipped past each other, the 0bjectionable clicking of the ratchet-teeth being obviated by means of the bumpers 18.

Instead of making the driving-gear in the form of an attachment to an ordinary machine already on the market, it will of course be understood that the machine may be man ufactured especially for the improved gearing, in which case the arms 4 will be made integral with the bottom runs or rear-fork braces of the frame and suitably braced with relation to the remainder of the frame. Bymeans of the gearing any desired power may be obtained, thus adapting the machine especially for hill-climbing. There is alsoless liability of a ladys dress becoming caught in the operative members of the machine, as is the case with the usual sprockets and chain. Continuous power may also be applied, as there are no dead-centers, and the pedals may also be used for foot-rests in coasting.

22 designates a safety supporting part 1, which is used in connection with each pedallever. Each of said supports consists of a collar 23, embracing one of the bottom runs of the machine-frame, and a depending portion having its lower end hooked, as indicated at 24:, so as to limit the downward movement of these respective levers in the event of the flexible connection between the levers becoming broken. The pedal-levers are thus prevented from falling and coming into contact with the ground, thus preventing a serious injury to the machine and rider.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

In a bicycle, the combination with the driving-wheel, of ratchet-wheels, pedal-levers fulcrumed on the machine-frame, means for causing said levers to move laterally in opposite directions, toothed segments pivotally connected to said levers and meshing with said ratchetwheels, and bumpers of rubber, or similar material, projecting from the inactive surfaces of the teeth on the segment, substantially-as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MYER JOSEPH.

WVitnesses:

J. A. BAILEY, Jr., EDWARD A. BAILEY. 

